Cigarette ventilation



Jan. 20, 1970 J. S. OSMALOV ET AL CIGARETTE VENTILATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 20, 1967 J. S. OSMALOV ET AL CIGARETTE VENTILATION Jan. 20,1970 Filed April 20 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O3,490,461 CIGARETTE VENTILATION Jerome S. Osmalov, Arthur R. Pasqune,Robert B. Seligman, and Andrew C. Britton, Richmond, Va., assgnors to-Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of VirginiaFiled Apr. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 632,336 Int. Cl. A24d 1/04 U.S. Cl.ISI-10.5 S Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A cigarette in which thesmoke drawn from the tobacco section is delivered to the smokers mouththrough a central passage in a mouthpiece arranged in alignment with thetobacco section and in fluid communication therewith, the mouthpiecebeing provided with one or more ventilation passages through whichVentilating streams of air are drawn during smoking, the ventilationpassages being segregated from the central passage in a manner whichprevents commingling of the smoke stream and Ventilating streams priorto the delivery of each to the smokers mouth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known that certain advantages accruefrom the introduction of Ventilating air streams into a cigarette todilute the smoke stream. The dilution of the smoke stream has the effectof reducing the quantity of smoke particulates and gas phase componentsdelivered to the mouth in the course of each puff taken on thecigarette. Furthermore, the Ventilating streams function to cool thesmoke stream. Various means of introducing the air stream into thecigarette are known as for example, the tobacco cylinder wrapper can bea Very porous paper which allows for aspiration of air therethrough andinto the tobacco cylinder where it commingles with the smoke stream or,the tobacco cylinder wrapper may be perforated at locations along thelength thereof which provides radial access ports to the tobaccocylinder through which Venti lating air streams enter the cigarette. Itis also known to perforate the filter section Wrapper of a filtercigarette or otherwise provide it with ports communicating With thefilter medium to admit the Ventilating air streams directly to thefilter section rather than to the tobacco cylinder.

The foregoing known Ventilating means are effective to producesignificant dilution of the smoke stream but provide that such dilutionfirst occurs within the cigarette and not in the smokers mouth. Also,when these means are employed with filter cigarettes, they each sufferfrom a common shortcoming in that not only the smoke stream, but theVentilating air streams are directed through at least a portion of thefilter section. Thus the filter medium which is intended to remove smokecomponents from the smoke stream is not used to full advantage becausethe Ventilating air streams tend to transit the filter section adjacentthe point of entry of the air streams thereto and channel along definedpaths in the filter medium to the exclusion of the smoke stream. Thusthe available How paths in the filter section for the smoke streambecome lessened and, as a consequence, filtration efficiency of thefilter section decreases particularly as the smoking progresses. On theother hand, if the Ventilating streams be diverted in a mannersegregating them from the smoke stream, it is possible for the filtermedium to be utilized to maximum effect for filtration of smokecomponents. Furthermore, the provision of segregated smoke and airstreams means that the first commingling of the smoke 3,490,461 PatentedJan. 20, 1970 stream and Ventilating air streams occurs in the smokersmouth resulting in a better taste and increased flavor experience forthe smoker. This phenomenon is no less apparent as applied to non-filtertype cigarettes.

The present invention achieves the foregoing desirable ends with amouthpiece suited for use with both filter type and non-filter typecigarette and which allows delivery of the smoke stream to the smokersmouth through a central passage in the mouthpiece while concurrently,Ventilating air streams are introduced into the cigarette in flow pathscompletely segregated from the smoke stream. Thus in the case of afilter cigarette, only smoke transits the filter section and the smokestream is first commingled with the Ventilating air streams only upondelivery of each to the smokers mouth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cigarette of the present invention isintended inter alia, to provide for maximum smoke filtration of a filtertype cigarette yet embody means to take advantage of the effects ofcigarette Ventilation and also to provide a novel means for Ventilatingnon-filter type cigarettes. According to the invention, a filtercigarette is provided with a tubular mouthpiece at the rear end of thefilter section, the mouthpiece having at least one central passagetherethrough providing a fiow path for the smoke stream so that thelatter passes unimpeded from the filter section to the smokers mouth.The mouthpiece is also provided with one or more separate ventilationpassages formed in the body of the mouthpiece at or adjacent theperiphery thereof the arrangement being such that the smoke passage andVentilation passages extend in the same general direction. The outletsof each ventilation passage communicate directly with the smokers mouthso that the Ventilating air stream and smoke stream are each deliveredseparately to the mouth, the ventilation passages also being providedwith inlets in communication with the atmosphere. The ventilationpassages may be provided in a number of Ways. For example, themouthpiece can be formed with longitudinal grooves in the outerperiphery thereof, the grooves having a suitable shape such as beingarcuate in section. A wrapper sheet can be employed to enclose themouthpiece and connect it with the filter section, or with the filterand tobacco sections. Each groove thus provides a Ventilation passage.The inlet to the respective grooves can be provided by perforating thewrapper sheet to establish communication to the atmosphere, or themouthpiece can be made slightly larger than the filter section to allowinsertion of the latter at least partly within the mouthpiece in whichcase the inlet ends of the passages communicate directly withatmosphere. It is also possible to form the ventilation passages in thestructure of the mouthpiece intermediate the inner and outer surfacesthereof. In this embodiment, the ventilation passages are constituted bya series of longitudinal conduits in the body each having a radiallydirected inlet port which communicates with the atmosphere.

`If the mouthpiece is used with a non-filter type cigarette, it can beconnected with the tobacco cylinder with a wrapper sheet, or themouthpiece can be made larger than the tobacco cylinder, and the laterinserted partly therein.

According to the invention, the mouthpiece can be provided with internalribs extending the full length thereof and serving to strengthen themouthpiece structure as well as giving it an attractive appearance. Inthis event, the ribs will function to sub-divide the smoke passage intotwo or more separate smoking passages.

The mouthpiece can be formed from various materials includingthermoplastics, corrugated paper and metal foil. A further feature ofthe construction of the mouthpiece is that cigarette flavoringsubstances such as menthol can be incorporated in one or more of theventilation passages and smoke treating substances can be incorporatedin the smoke passage.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A fuller understanding of the natureand objects of the invention will Ibe had from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional vie'w of a ventilated cigarettemade according to the present invention, the thickness dimensions beingexaggerated for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 1a is an end view of the cigarette shown in FIGURE 1 as viewedfrom the left side thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modification whereinthe filter section of the cigarette extends within the mouthpiece.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 except that it illustrates anon-filler type cigarette which is ventilated according to the teachingof the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 except it shows a filtercigarette wherein both the filter medium and tobacco cylinder extendwithin the full length of the mouthpiece.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 of a further modified formof the cigarette wherein the ventilation passages in the mouthpiece areformed radially inwardly a distance from the mouthpiece outer surface.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a mouthpiece which can be used withthe cigarettes illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view on enlarged scale of amouthpiece of the type illustrated in FIGURE 5 showing an additionalmodification thereto in the form of a central supporting rib.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mouthpiece which isformed from either corrugated paper or a foil of a metal.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of mouthpiece inwhich the ventilation passages are formed so as to follow a spiralcourse.

Throughout the description like reference numbers are used to denotelike parts in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The cigarette of the presentinvention embodies means with which separate Ventilating air streams canbe delivered to the smokers mouth concurrently with the smoke stream atwhich point the first commingling of the respective streams occurs. Thecooling, diluting air streams are delivered through the agency of amouthpiece representative constructional forms of which -will bedescribed shortly. The present invention provides that the mouthpiececan -be used in conjunction with a filter cigarette or with a cylinderof tobacco alone to make use of the positive effects of cigaretteventilation.

As a preliminary, a Ibrief discussion will be made of the advantages andattributes of cigarette ventilation. In general, ventilation involvesintroducing air into the smoke stream ultimately delivered to thesmokers mouth. The air serves, inter alia, as a coolant and also as adiluent for diluting the smoke thereby diminishing the smoke componentspresent in the delivered smoke. The reduction of particulate matter andgas phase in the smoke which is delivered to the mouth is derived frombetter filtration (in tilter types) of the smoke actually puffed andalso because a lesser volume of smoke is actually puffed although thetotal volume puffed by the smoker is substantially the same as that hewould puff, if ventilation Was not employed. In other words, for a givenaverage puff volume, the Ventilating fresh air stream volume will reducethe smoke stream volume accordingly. In this manner, less actual smokeis delivered to the smokers mouth and hence less smoke solids. As thoseskilled in the art will perceive upon reading the present description, alesser smoke draw during puffing will be accompanied by a decrease insmoke stream velocity, providing for a longer dwell of the smoke in thecigarette filter unit with consequent promotion of the effectiveness ofsmoke filtration.

Turning now to a consideration of the filter type cigarette 10illustrated in FIGURE l, it includes a tobacco section 12 comprised of acylinder of tobacco 14 and a paper wrap-per 15 therefor. Aligned withthe tobacco cylinder 14 is a filter section 16 which comprises asuitable filter medium in contactwith an end of the tobacco cylinder.The filter medium may be of various substances, as 'for example, a towof cellulose acetate, a composite structure including a fiber and agranular filtrant such as charcoal, or any other form of filter mediumsuited for the intended purposes. As is a common practice in filtercigarette making, the filter section is formed as a cylindrical bodyhaving substantially the same diameter as the tobacco cylinder. Alignedwith the filter section is a mouthpiece 18, the latter device having aninner passage 20 extending therethrough and providing a iiow path forthe smoke drawn through the filter section and delivered to the smokersmouth during puffing. Mouthpiece 18 is conveniently formed as agenerally cylindrical body with the Wall thickness thereof being kept ata minimum in order to reduce the area thereof which confronts the end ofthe filter medium and thereby lessen the area of the filter medium whichcan not be used for filtration purposes. The outer surface of themouthpiece 18 is formed in such manner that it will provide structuredefining one or more ventilation passages in the mouthpiece. Thus it maybe formed with one or more longitudinal grooves 22 as best seen inFIGURES 1a and 6. The grooves 22 may have the arcuate shape shown inwhich case the mouthpiece will have a fiuted appearance. The number anddimensions of the grooves 22 may be varied depending on the measure ofventilation desired. It will be understood that the surfaceconfiguration of the mouthpiece may include grooves, channels, embossedstructure or other surface formations which are suited to produce one ormore unobstructed paths along which streams of Ventilating air can flowin transit to the smokers mouth, the essential requirement being thatthe Ventilating air stream paths be segregated from the smoke streamflow path constituted by inner passage 20.

Mouthpiece 18 is preferably formed so that its outside diameter issubstantially equal to that of the filter section facilitating itsjoindery to the filter section by means of a Wrapper sheet 24, thelatter being commonly referred to in the art as a combining wrap. Thewrapper sheet 24 encloses the outer surface of the mouthpiece and bearstightly against the peaks 17 formed `by the intersecting surfaces ofadjacent grooves 22 effectively making each groove 22 a separateventilation passage which is segregated from each of the others and frominner passage 20, this feature being more readily apparent by referenceto FIGURE 1a. The Wrapper sheet 24 preferably is a porous paper whichallows air to pass therethrough, preferably being one having a Greinerporosity of between 0.0 and 0.1. An outer wrapper 26 overlies thewrapper sheet 24 and is provided for the purpose of joining together theassembly of the mouthpiece, filter section and tobacco section. Theouter wrapper 26 which is a type commonly referred to in the tobacco artas tipping paper, is impervious to air flow but since ventilating airmust be delivered through the mouthpiece ventilation passages, the outerwrapper 26 is provided with perforated openings 28 in the regionsthereof adjacent the inlet ends of the ventilation passages. Theperforated openings 28 may be arranged as one or more circles ofopenings extending around the mouthpiece. It is in this manner, that theventilation passages are placed in communication with the atmosphere. Itwill be understood that wrapper sheet 24 also could be a type of paperthat is substantially impervious to the passage of air therethrough. Inthis case, the wrapper sheet would also be provided with perforatedopenings similar to openings 28.

The ow patterns of the smoke stream and Ventilating air streams may benoted in FIGURE 1. Thus, during puiing the smoke stream which isdepicted by a single heavy line, is drawn from the tobacco section 12,through filter section 14 and unimpededly through the inner passage 20of the mouthpiece being delivered directly to the smokers mouth onexiting from passage 20. Accompanying the draw of the smoke stream, isthe concurrent intake to the smokers mouth of Ventilating air streams inthe pattern as shown in dashed lines. Thus, the ventilating air is drawnfrom the atmosphere through openings 28 in the outer wrapper 26, throughthe porous wrapper sheet 24 and into the inlet ends of each ventilationpassage. The ventilation passages comprised by the grooves have outletscoincident with the plane in which lies the outlet end of inner passage21 so that the Ventilating air streams exit from the mouthpiece withinthe smokers mouth not having theretofore commingled with the smokestream. The Ventilating air streams can enter the mouthpiece ventilationpassages only through openings 28 as the outer wrapper 2-6 is airimpervious and no outside air aspiration to the filter section 16 ispossible. It is to be recognized however that the intake of air to theventilation passages by way of openings 28 may in some instances,depending on the level of dilution involved, flow velocity of theVentilating air and other factors, tend to set up a venturi effect atthe inlet ends of the ventilation passages promoting the intake of airto the Ventilation passages from the iilter section. This can beobviated by printing a thin coating of a smoke impervious material onthe rear face of the `filter medium as at 31.

The perforated openings 28 in the outer wrapper 26 can be formed thereinvarious ways, One convenient method of effecting this is toneedle-pierce the outer wrapper to form the openings therein before itis wrap- -ped on the cigarette. The number and size of the openings inthe outer wrap can be varied depending upon the level of dilution to beprovided. In general, the dilution range may vary between 0% and 80%Ventilating air in each puff, the actual dilution employed beingdetermined by factors such as end point of acceptable taste, cigaretteresistance to draw, etc. Obviously, if the dilution is low and themouthpiece is made with a number of passagesrnore than are required toachieve the necessary dilution, openings 28 will not be provided in theouter wrapper for each corresponding passage but only for as many as areassociated with the particular dilution level.

The outer wrapper is not necessary on the form of cigarette shown inFIGURE 2. This cigarette 40 has a tobacco section 42, filter section 44and a mouthpiece 46 similar to that already described in that the latterhas a central or inner smoke passage 48 and a group of longitudinalgrooves 50 formed circularly spaced around the outer surface of themouthpiece. The latter grooves could for example comprise six in numberand be arranged at a spacing of 60 intervals. The mouthpiece, however,is provided with an inside diameter just slightly larger than theoutside diameter of filter section 44 thereby allowing the liltersection to extend into the mouthpiece in the manner shown. Forfaciliating assembly of the cigarette, the tobacco cylinder 42 is joinedto the filter section with a paper combining wrap 43. Advantages of thisconstruction are that the full cross sectional area of the filter unitis available for filtration and the recessed location of the lter mediumlessens the likelihood of the smoker contacting same with his tongue. Afurther important advantage of this construction is that the ventilatingair transits the full length of the filter medium and contributes to acooling of the lilter with consequent improved smoke condensation in thelatter. A wrapper sheet 52 encloses the outer surface of the mouthpieceand it can Ibe an air impervious type since the inlets to the respectiveventilation passages constituted by grooves 50 are open to theatmosphere directly as at 54. As in the previously described embodimentof FIGURE 1, the smoke stream and Ventilating air streams iiow paths areshown in solid heavy and dashed lines respectively.

The cigarette shown in FIGURE 4 is the same as that shown in FIGURE 2except that the lilter section 101 therein extends fully within themouthpiece 102, the rearmost end of each being aligned as at 103. Also,the mouthpiece extends over a portion of the tobacco section 104 as at105. As with the cigarette of FIGURE 2, the cigarette 100 can include acombining wrap 107 for joining the tobacco cylinder with the filtermedium. Cooling of the filter medium 101 by the Ventilating air occursin the same manner and with the advantages described for cigarette 40.

The mouthpiece structure used in the cigarette embodiments of FIGURES 1and 2 may be made from a Variety of materials and formed in a number ofways. For example, the mouthpiece 18 shown in FIGURE 6 is made byextruding a tubular body of thermoplastic material of continuous lengthand then sectioning same to provide individual mouthpieces. Suitablemouthpiece materials can include thermosetting resins such as phenolics.Foamed polyurethane also could be used provided an air impervious lm wasapplied to the external surfaces thereof, or the mouthpiece could bemade from an extruded bonded fiber. The dimensions of the mouthpiece canof course be varied with respect to length. For example, mouthpieceswith lengths between l0 and 30 mm. or more and a circumference of 25 mm.are readily adapted for use on existing cigarette making machines. It isalso possible t-o make the mouthpiece from paper or a foil of a metalsuch as aluminum provided same is sufficiently rigid to be shaped intoand retain the structural form of the mouthpiece. Thus, a sheet ofcorrugated paper or metal foil can ybe rolled to form a tubular fiutedstructure 60 such as that shown in FIGURE 8, the respective longitudinalmargins being connected together in abuttment or overlapped relation toform a seam as at 61, the rolled sheet thereafter being cut intoindividual mouthpiece lengths. The mouthpiece shown in FIG- URE 9 isformed as a generally cylindrical body. As will be noted though, theventilation passages 131 therein are formed to transit a spiral coursein the direction of the major axis of the mouthpiece. This mouthpiece isintended to be used wherein the filter section extends within themouthpiece and advantage can be taken of the longer passage of air alongthe passages 131 to cool the filter medium and thereby derive thebenefits already mentioned in the description of the cigarettes of FIG-URES 2 and 4.

The mouthpiece structure of the present invention not only serves as themeans by which separate smoke stream and Ventilating air streamsdelivery can be made to the smokers mouth, but it provides a convenientmeans of incorporating flavoring substances in the cigarettes. Thus asshown in FIGURE 6, particles 58 of a menthol, sprayed on film ofanetholey or other suitable tobacco ilavoring substance can be disposedin the ventilation passages. It is also possible to impregnate themouthpiece with a solution of the flavoring substance if the mouthpiecematerial is of a character which lends itself to that end, as forexample, the paper mouthpiece of FIGURE 8.

Another form of mouthpiece is used in the cigarette 70 shown in FIGURE5. The cigarette 70 is very similar 7 to the cigarette of FIGURE 1except the mouthpiece 72 itself is of somewhat different construction.Mouthpiece 72 is of generally cylindrical shape having a central smokepassage 74. The ventilation passages however, are not formed at theouter surface of the mouthpiece. Instead, they are formed as a circle oflongitudinal conduits 76 in the structure of the mouthpiece intermediateits inner and outer surfaces. The conduits 76 can extend end to end ofthe mouthpiece body with each conduit having an inlet port 78 extendingradially outwardly to the outer surface of the mouthpiece. A porouswrapper sheet 80 and an outer wrapper 82 can be provided with the outerwrapper 82 having perforated openings I84 therein associated with eachVentilating passage for the purpose of placing the inlet of theVentilating passage in communication with the atmosphere. The smokestream and ventilating air stream ilow paths having been illustrated forcigarette 70 in the same manner as previously described.

FIGURE 7 shows a modification to the mouthpiece 72 of cigarette 70. Themodification provides for including a stiffening rib 90 in themouthpiece structure. The rib 90 preferably is formed integral with thestructure as shown and extends end to end thereof. The rib effectivelysub-divides the central smoke passage into two separate smoke passages92, 94. While the confrontation of the rib with the iilter media servesto reduce the area of the latter which is available for filtration, therib nevertheless serves to rigidize the mouthpiece structure Where theshell thickness of the latter is very small. The rib also serves as adecorative function and is not limited to being a single rib. Forexample, the rib could be of cruciform section.

A number of important advantages result from the Ventilated cigarette ofthe present invention, the obvious prime advantage being that dilutionof the smoke thereof with Ventilating air streams reduces the tobaccosolids and smoke organic gas phase delivered to the smokers mouth andthis whether the cigarette be a iilter type or non-ilter type. In thecase of the filter type cigarette the reduction of particulate matterdelivery is further enhanced by the better liltration possible withdilution by reason of a longer dwell of the smoke within the -iltermedium as will appear from the example to be given below. An unexpectedadvantage to the smoker is the provision of increased smoke iiavor andtaste possible with the cigarette of this invention. This is believedattributable to the fact that the first smoke dilution occurs in thesmokers mouth as a consequence of separate delivery of the smoke streamand Ventilating streams thereto. This iirst taste impact was found toprovide more pleasurable taste response to the smoker than ventilatedcigarettes in which first dilution occurs without the mouth. A furtheradvantage of the cigarette of the present invention lies in the factthat the Ventilating air stream passage and smoke stream passage aresegregated from each other and lacking communication with each other itis impossible for backup of Smoke to occur through the Ventilationinlets. Thus the smoker experiences no staining or odorizing of hisngers from smoke as can occur with other types of ventilated cigaretteswherein the smoke passage communicates with the ventilation passage.

The effectiveness of the principles of cigarette ventilation of thepresent invention as embodied in a lter type cigarette will be apparentfrom the following example. A number of cigarettes of the constructionshown in FIG- URE 1 were made. The tobacco cylinders were sized to be 63mm. long and the tobacco cylinders alone had an averageresistance-to-draw (RTD) of 2.0 in. of water. The iilter sections weremade 10 mm. long and were comprised of cellulose acetate, the filtershaving on an average, a RTD of 2.8 in. of water. A number of mouthpiecesas shown in FIGURE 6 of l5 mm. length were formed with 24 groovestherein, each groove being about 0.040 in. wide and 0.011 in. deep atthe center, the mouthpiece being joined to the lter sections and tobaccocylinder with combining wrappers and tipping paper. The total RTD of thecigarettes measured prior to smoking was an average of 2.3 in. of water.The dilution as measured during smoking averaged 55%. A number ofcigarettes also were made in which the mouthpieces had eight grooveseach approximately 0.050 in. Wide and 0.011 in. deep at the center. Thecigarettes prior to smoking had an average total RTD of 2.7 in. Thedilution as measured during smoking averaged 47%. The tipping paper usedfor both types of cigarettes was provided with 48 holes approximately0.030 sq. mm. in area. When the cigarettes with the 24 groovemouthpieces were smoked on a cigarette testing machine, they deliveredan average of 10 mg. of TPM (total particulate matter) and 3.1 mg. ofOGP (organic gas phase); corresponding unventilated (i.e., not fittedwith mouthpieces) cigarettes delivered 20 mg. of TPM and 4.2 mg. of OGP.It will be seen then that the ventilation accounted for a notablereduction in TPM and OGP delivered to the smoker.

The principles of cigarette ventilation according to the presentinvention also can be applied to non-filter type cigarettes as may beseen byrreference to FIGURE 3, which depicts a cigarette which has atobacco section 121 extending partly into a mouthpiece 1,22 of theconstruction shown in FIGURE 6, the mouthpiece being enclosed with anon-porous wrapper sheet 123 which is employed to join the tobaccosection to the mouthpiece. When the smoker draws on the cigarette 120,the smoke is delivered to the mouth by way of mouthpiece central passage124 whereas a concurrent ow of Ventilating air is delivered to the mouththrough the Ventilating passages 135 in the Imouthpiece entering thelatter through perforated openings 128 in wrapper sheet 123, the courseof the air being shown by means of dashed lines. It is also possible toprovide communication between the inlets of the respective Ventilatingpassages 125 and atmosphere by securing wrapper sheet 123 to the wrapperof tobacco section 121 with a non-continuous circle of adhesive as at127, the spaces between succeeding adhered segments of the wrapper sheeton the circle providing breathing ports to admit air. The mouthpiece 122is shown in FIG- URE 3 as being slightly greater in diameter than thetobacco cylinder so as to receive the latter. It will be apparent thatthe diameter of these two structures also could be made substantiallyequal. The following example will serve to illustrate the positiveachievements of ventilating non-filter type cigarettes. 15 mm. plasticmouthpieces of the type shown in FIGURE 6 were attached to 85 m-rn.tobacco cylinders, being joined together with a conventional tippingpaper. The tipping paper was perforated with two circular rows ofopenings adjacent the inlet of the respective Ventilating passages.Control cigarettes comprising each a 85 mm. length tobacco cylinderjoined to a 15 mm. length paper mouthpiece without ventilating passageswere provided. The cigarettes were then smoled and the followingrepresentative parameters were note Ventilated N ori-ventilatedcigarette cigarette Dilution (average), percent 64 0 Cigt. RTD, in.H2O 1. 2 3.3 TPM, mg./cgt. to 30 mm. butt length 19. 0 45. 0

Putt count 12. 5 11. 1

for incorporating avorants in the cigarette. However, these flavorantsalso could be incorporated in the smoke passage as well. Thus forexample as seen in FIGUREI 3 particles of methol 12S could beincorporated in the smoke passage 124. The smoke passage also provides aconvenient place for incorporating smoke treating substances such ascharcoal which is used to reduce the smoke OGP. In the latter instance,the charcoal could be fused t the surfaces of passage 124. It is alsopossible to utilize the smoke passage 124 as the place where both ailavorant and tobacco-treating materialcan be incorporated in thecigarette. For example, a charcoal serving as a avor transfer agent fora avorant such as menthol contained in the charcoal could be disposed inthe passage 124.

Prom the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that theventilated cigarette of the present invention offers importantadvantages. It is known that a reduction in smoke ow through a iiltermedia is accompanied by 'an increase in the efficiency of particulateltration of the media. The introduction of Ventilating air streams asprovided by the present invention, produces such a reduction in smoke owand does it without having the fresh air invest the filter media whichaction would otherwise reduce the available area of the media filteringthe smoke. Thus, the full area of the media serves to filter the smokeand it does so under conditions of reduced smoke ow with consequentgreater overall removal of smoke particulates.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are eiciently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction and dierentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lilter cigarette including a tobacco section comprised oftobacco enclosed with a paper wrapper,

a lter element at one end of said tobacco section,

and a ventilation mouthpiece connected with said filter element andembodying ventilation passages through which dilution air is drawndirectly from the atmosphere to the smokers mouth without admixture ofthe same with smoke drawn from the tobacco section through said lterelement when the cigarette is puffed, the improvement of said mouthpiececomprising a thin-walled tubular body of extruded thermoplastic materialhaving a central passage of circular section through which the smokedrawn during puing passes, said body having a plurality of groovesformed in the outer surface thereof and extending longitudinally of saidbody, said grooves being circularly spaced around said body, said bodybeing joined to said filter element with a wrapping of porous paper,

each groove being spaced from adjacent grooves by an intervening portionof the outer surface of said body which is engaged tightly by saidporous paper thereby to isolate each groove from the grooves adjacentthereto,

said lter element and said mouthpiece being joined with said tobaccocylinder by a wrapping of tipping paper overlaying said porous wrapping,said tipping paper having a circle of perforations therein communicatingat least some of said grooves with atmosphere. 2. The cigarette of claim1 wherein said grooves are uniformly circularly spaced around said bodyand are of arcuate section shape, the intervening portion of the outersurface of said body between Vadjacent grooves being in the form ofpeaks formed in said body outer surface by the intersection of thearcuate surfaces of adjacent grooves, said porous paper tightly engagingsaid peaks.

3. The cigarette of claim 2 wherein said lter element is a plug ofcellulose acetate.

4. In a lter cigarette including a tobacco section comprised of tobaccoenclosed with a paper wrapper,

a lter element at one end of said tobacco section, and a ventilationmouthpiece connected with said filter element and embodying ventilationpassages through which dilution air is drawn directly from theatmosphere to the smokers mouth Without admixture of the same with smokedrawn from the tobacco section through said iilter element when thecigarette is puffed, the improvement of said mouthpiece comprising athin-Walled tubular body of thermoplastic material having a centralpassage through which the smoke drawn during puffing passes, said bodyhaving a plurality of passages formed in the outer surface thereof andextending longitudinally of said body, and being joined to said lterelement with a porous wrapping paper pervious to air passagetherethrough,

said lter element and said mouthpiece being joined with said tobaccocylinder by a wrapping of tipping paper overlaying said porous wrapping,said tipping paper having a circle of perforations therein communicatingat least some of said passages through said porous wrapping withatmosphere.

5. The cigarette of claim 4 wherein said passages comprise groovesuniformly circularly spaced around said body, the intervening portion ofthe outer surface of said body between adjacent grooves being in theform of peaks formed in said body outer surface by the intersection ofthe adjacent grooves, said porous paper tightly engaging said peaks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,410,275 11/1968 Tucker 131-101,718,122 6/1929 De Shon 131-9 3,323,525 6/1967 Miller 131-198 X3,324,862 6/1967 De Simone 131-10.5 3,390,684 7/1968 Hudnell 131-9FOREIGN PATENTS 240,650 '9/ 1962 Australia. 668,052 8/1963 Canada.1,034,663 4/ 1953 France. 1,349,992 12/ 1963 France.

LUCIE H. LAUDENSLAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. l3l-9, 198

